MySQL Setup for an LTU Laptop

As of August, 2004 the version of MySQL installed on the
LTU TechBook is hopelessly outdated. To maximize your
convenience while studying databases, consider following the
these directions

Go to MySQL.com and
download mysql-4.0.20d-win.zip (21,236 Kbytes) or the latest
stable version.

The ODBC driver comes separately. While at MySQL, download
MyODBC-3.51.06.exe as well.

If you already have a version of MySQL installed, you may
want to run the uninstall. However, before installing a new
version, be sure and use the "services" applet and stop the
old MySQL service if it is running. During an uninstall and
install any old databases will be preserved except "test"
and "mysql" (the system tables).

Install both MySQL and the ODBC driver.

Now that MySQL is installed

Run c:\mysql\bin\winmysqladmin.exe On the Environment tab,
verify that the ODBC driver is installed. On the my.ini tab,
make the mysqld file be mysqld-nt and "Save Modification."

Run c:\mysql\bin\mysql -u root to make yourself a database
administrator (and give yourself access to your old databases
-- since your old permissions are not in the new "mysql"
database tables.) Go to the command prompt and

Since our introductory courses all use the command line,
making a working folder with the same name as your course
and no embedded spaces is a good idea. (For this
example, c:\mcs5303.)

Make an icon or two on your desktop to access your
practice database. Make a shortcut to c:\mysql\bin\mysql.exe
Then rename it "mysql" and open the
properties and change the "Target" and "Start in" boxes as
shown. You may also wish to copy the "Command Prompt"
shortcut from the Start Menu and rename it and change its
"Start in" property to be the course folder you created
earlier.

To check your setup, try an installation script for some
practice tables. Assume your textbook is Ramakrishnan and
you want to try the practice sets that the author uses in
Chapters 4 and 5. You would download sbr_mysql.sql to your course folder, c:\mcs5303,
and then double-click your "mysql" desktop icon. Then in
mysql, using the password for your working account, run
sbr_mysql.sql

If instead, you are taking MCS3543, you would download watson_mysql.sql to your course folder, c:\mcs3543,
and then double-click your "mysql" desktop icon. Then in
mysql, using the password for your working account, run
watson_mysql.sql